"I have already told Hastings (я уже говорил Гастингсу; to tell — говорить, рассказывать) that I am like the Prima Donna (что я — как примадонна) who makes always one more appearance (которая всегда выступает: «появляется» еще один раз)," said Poirot, smiling (улыбаясь).
"Shouldn't wonder (не стоило бы удивляться) if you ended (если бы вы закончили) by detecting your own death (расследуя собственную смерть)," said Japp, laughing heartily (сердечно смеясь). "That's an idea, that is (это идея, точно). Ought to be put in a book (должна бы войти в книгу: «следовала бы быть положенной в книгу»)."
advertisement [@d'v@:tIsm@nt], fungus ['fVNg@s], society [s@'saI@tI]
"Except Monsieur Poirot here," said Japp. "Quite a good advertisement for a hair tonic, he'd be. Face fungus sprouting finer than ever. Coming out into the limelight, too, in his old age. Mixed up in all the celebrated cases of the day. Train mysteries, air mysteries, high society deaths — oh, he's here, there and everywhere. Never been so celebrated as since he retired."
"I have already told Hastings that I am like the Prima Donna who makes always one more appearance," said Poirot, smiling.
"Shouldn't wonder if you ended by detecting your own death," said Japp, laughing heartily. "That's an idea, that is. Ought to be put in a book."
"It will be Hastings who will have to do that (Гастингсу придется это сделать: «это будет Гастингс, которому придется сделать это»)," said Poirot, twinkling at me (подмигивая мне).
"Ha ha (ха-ха)! That would be a joke, that would (то была бы шутка, точно: «то была бы»)," laughed Japp (засмеялся Джепп).
I failed to see (мне не удалось понять) why the idea was so extremely amusing (почему эта идея была такой крайне забавной), and in any case (и, в любом случае) I thought the joke was in poor taste (я подумал, что шутка была дурного вкуса; to think — думать, считать). Poirot, poor old chap (бедный старина: «бедный старый парень»), is getting on (стареет; to get on — продолжать; стареть). Jokes about his approaching demise can hardly be agreeable to him (шутки о его приближающейся кончине едва ли приятны ему; agreeable — приятный, милый; приемлемый).
twinkle [twINkl], approach [@'pr@UtS], demise [dI'maIz]
"It will be Hastings who will have to do that," said Poirot, twinkling at me.
"Ha ha! That would be a joke, that would," laughed Japp.
I failed to see why the idea was so extremely amusing, and in any case I thought the joke was in poor taste. Poirot, poor old chap, is getting on. Jokes about his approaching demise can hardly be agreeable to him.
Perhaps my manner showed my feelings (вероятно, мой вид выдавал мои чувства: «моя манера показывала мои чувства»), for Japp changed the subject (так как Джепп сменил тему).
"Have you heard about Monsieur Poirot's anonymous letter?" he asked (вы слышали об анонимном письме мсье Пуаро? — спросил он).
"I showed it to Hastings the other day," said my friend (я на днях показывал его Гастингсу, — сказал мой друг).
"Of course," I exclaimed (конечно, — воскликнул я). "It had quite slipped my memory (оно совершенно вылетело из моей памяти; to slip — скользить). Let me see (послушайте: «позвольте мне посмотреть»), what was the date mentioned (какое число было упомянуто)?"